Allantoid

/əˈlæntɔɪd/ adjective

Definition

Resembling or relating to the allantois, or describing a structure that has a shape similar to a sausage.

Etymology

From allantois + -oid (resembling). The allantois root comes from Greek allos (other) + -eid (form). The word originally described the organ's sausage-like appearance.

Kelly Says

The allantois literally means 'other-shaped'—it's named for being sausage-like—which shows how medieval anatomists were surprisingly witty and observant about the strange organs they found in embryos.

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